Bridal Hairstyles That Look Good With Veils, Barrettes and Headbands

Bridal Hairstyles That Look Good With Veils, Barrettes and Headbands

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You’ve got your dress, shoes and that special “something blue” all squared away. Now the biggest puzzle of all: What kind of topper to wear—and what the heck to do with your hair? To get a few no-fail answers to that bridal beauty conundrum, we asked hair pros, headpiece designers and other wedding hairstyle gurus for help. Here’s what they had to say:

If you’re wearing a classic long veil, amp up your bun.

To make a sheer and simple veil that hangs down in back seem even more special, try to accessorize to your perfectly placed bun or chignon. “It’s a great accessory to wear over an updo that sits at the lower nape,” says wedding hair stylist Antoine Brechu. “Flowers or clips can be added to the updo to give the look a soft, fresh—and personalized—feel.”

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Go loose and easy with flapper-style headpieces.

Low across-the-forehead stunners work for a wide variety of hair lengths—and go perfectly with beaded or breezy wedding dresses. “The hippie-glam/flapper-style piece really looks best with hair down,” say Jen Gotch and Jamie Coulter, the two stylists behind Ban.do. “Whether you have a cute bob or long, loose waves, it’s definitely the way to go.”

Try a sleek bun or low chignon for a birdcage veil.

There are a few hairstyles to try with the sweet ’50s-inspired veils: “I like a sleek, low bun or long hair half up, half down,” says Kattia Solano of New York City’s Butterfly Studio salon, while hairpiece designer Austie Eckley likes a low, slightly off-center chignon. “Steer clear of wearing your hair completely down with a birdcage veil. The veil needs something to complement it and equal it proportionally.”

High-impact fascinators work with low-key ‘dos.

Those dramatic vintage-looking headpieces will look gorge in photos—if you opt for a streamlined hairstyle. “Some can be a bit over-the-top, and there is definitely a tasteful way to wear these pieces. It is much more flattering when worn when your hair is (A) pulled back in a chignon that either sits at the back of the head or (B) worn loose and to the side,” says the Ban.do team.

Scale back the headpiece size when you’ve got big bangs.

Chances are your gorge, face-framing hair is dramatic enough—especially when you add some curls or braids! Instead of a down-to-there veil, why not try a floral headpiece instead. A silk bloom-accented barrette like this one says “bride” just as well as a veil.

Twist your hair a bit when wearing a spiffy wedding barrettes.

“With a hair clip, you can have the most freedom,” says headpiece designer and hairstylist Austie Eckley. “I [like the] half-up, half-down ‘do, just sweeping one side of hair up off of the face. Even a beautiful French twist with the clip nestled into the crease of the twist could work.”

Use a fancy headband to dress up your ponytail.

No one wants to worry about wearing a long veil all night long. For a look that’ll go from the aisle to the dance floor, track down a fancy headband. Wear it solo—or with a detachable veil—and secure over a glam, bumped-up retro pony. So cute!

If deciding on a bridal hairstyle is too tough, just go simple.

“One of my favorite bridal hairstyles is a fuller look with loose curls from root to shaft,” says Beenders. “I think it’s universally flattering because it shapes anyone’s face and adds some texture to the look.”

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And remember: Steer clear of the big, bad updos.

Institute a “no bad prom hair” with your wedding-day hairstylist: That means no tight, shellacked curls, no super-tight twist and no French braid—unless you’ve found a way to make that look work. And avoid this major wedding-veil hairstyle DON’T: “A hairstyle that doesn’t work with a veil? An enormous beehive,” say Ban.do designers. “Although that being said, we’re not sure an enormous beehive works with anything at all.”